EVANSTON, Ill. — A new study from Northwestern University has unveiled a surprising reality behind early 20th-century labor laws designed to protect women in the workplace. Instead of primarily benefiting women, these regulations largely functioned to shield men from competition in the job market, challenging long-held beliefs about their intent and impact on gender equality.
Led by Matthias Doepke, an economics professor at Northwestern, the research team analyzed the historical context of protective labor policies that were enforced from the early 1900s until the 1960s. These laws included restrictions on work hours, minimum wage mandates, and bans on night shifts specifically targeting women’s employment opportunities.
Doepke remarked that the success of these laws was less about genuinely safeguarding women and more about protecting male workers from an influx of competition as women began entering the workforce in larger numbers. “This phenomenon arose as men and women increasingly competed for the same job positions,” he explained.
The study, titled “Protection for Whom? The Political Economy of Protective Labor Laws for Women,” was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April 2025. Researchers utilized a political economy model, scrutinizing state-level data to investigate both the creation and subsequent repeal of these laws. Co-authors include Hanno Foerster from Boston College, Anne Hannusch from the University of Bonn, and Michèle Tertilt from the University of Mannheim.
As women began to make their mark in workplaces such as factories and offices during the early 1900s, the introduction of these laws represented a setback in gender equality efforts that had developed over the preceding 150 years. The regulations effectively restricted women’s job prospects and thereby reduced competition for male workers, especially those in single-income households without extensive job training.
The resurgence of gender equality advocacy in the 1960s played a pivotal role in the repeal of these protective laws. The Equal Rights Movement significantly contributed to dismantling gender-based discrimination in labor legislation, allowing for greater workplace equity. Doepke highlighted that the entry of married women into the labor force fostered alignment between the interests of men and women, catalyzing support for equitable policies.
“With more married women participating in the workforce, the interests of men and women became closely aligned, leading to greater advocacy for policies that supported equal opportunities,” Doepke added.
The research also illustrates a strong link between gender equality and economic development. As women’s labor force participation rose during the mid-20th century, there was an accompanying increase in support for women’s employment rights and anti-discrimination laws, which fueled economic expansion. Notably, high marriage rates and the involvement of married women in the workforce were identified as vital factors driving this progress.
However, the study’s findings raise concerns about current social and economic trends that may jeopardize these advancements. Declining marriage rates, particularly among less-educated demographics, and a growing political divide between young men and women pose significant obstacles to continued progress in gender equality. Doepke observed that young men are increasingly embracing conservative political views, while young women are leaning more toward liberal stances.
“The shift in political attitudes is notable,” he noted, pointing out that recent elections showed a significant support for conservative candidates among young men, reflecting divergent views on issues related to gender equity.
Recent legal developments and Supreme Court rulings further signal a potential regression in commitments to gender equality, emphasizing the relevance of the study’s historical insights in contemporary discussions about workplace fairness. Understanding the underlying motivations behind past labor policies is essential for informing ongoing debates about equality in the labor market.
The full study is available from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Insights from state-level labor regulations, including measures like the Illinois Equal Pay Act, exemplify modern efforts aimed at enhancing workplace protections for women.
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